For those who would like to opt for a short but meaningful trip with plentiful Bhutan-related experiences, this is the perfect package. The tour covers four districts that have some of the biggest tourist attractions in the Kingdom. You get to see all facets of Bhutan – people, culture, monuments, mountains, landscapes, wildlife, etc – with comparatively minimal travel time on the road.
This tour will also take you through the most stunning village’s filled phallic symbols, astonishing cultural monuments, towering Dzongs (fortress), and heritage sites, a get a glimpse of Bhutanese way of life, monks in rituals and reciting prayers, agricultural practices, and many more.
Overview
This tour will also take you through the most stunning village’s filled phallic symbols, astonishing cultural monuments, towering Dzongs (fortress), and heritage sites, a get a glimpse of Bhutanese way of life, monks in rituals and reciting prayers, agricultural practices, and many more.
ALAYA & Team will assist you to uncover the mysteries of many cultural practices. All our guides can speak more than 3 languages and numerous other dialects which help our guest understand culture and practices of different regions.
Itinerary
Arrive Paro International Airport. Your tour guide will meet you and take you to visit Paro Tadzong the national museum of Bhutan. After that drive on a short one-hour drive along the Paro and Thimphu River valleys to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital, at 2320 M. You can stop on the way to take in the magnificent Tamchhog Lhakhang, the hereditary place of worship for Bhutan’s iron bridge.
After Dinner night halt at hotel. Overnight at 3 Standard Hotels, Thimphu.
After enjoying the breakfast at hotel, we will do sightseeing in Thimphu City. Then Visit to Post office, to make your own stamp and send to your loved ones. Traditional Bhutanese Paper- to see the traditional methods to produce the authentic Bhutanese Paper known as Deh-sho and Visit to Folk Heritage Museums. Lunch will be served at one of the Restaurant at Thimphu.
After lunch, we will continue with our sightseeing and visit to DrupthopDewachen Nunnery, this nunnery was founded in 1976 by RikeyJadrel, who is considered an emanation of ThangtongGyalpo and then Takin Reserves to see the national animal of Bhutan. Evening visit to TrachichhoDzong, it is an architectural delight and houses the throne room, and the office of His Majesty the king and the ministries of home affairs and finance. Then stroll and explore around Thimphu town and do some shopping in Bhutan.
Dinner and overnight stay at 3 star Standard Hotels or similar Thimphu.
After our breakfast, we will drive to Punakha/Wangdi. The road climbs steeply through forests of pine, hemlock spruce and rhododendrons. At Dochula Pass (3150m) you will have a breathtaking panoramic view of the Eastern Himalayan Mountain ranges on clear days. The pass is adorned with 108 small stupas and many kinds of prayer flags. Then the road descends through lush forests to the fertile valley of Punakha & WangdiPhodrang.
Then we will drive to off beaten track of Phobjikha Valley. It is a glacial valley and is the winter home of the black-necked cranes. This valley is a designated conservation area and borders Black Mountain National Park.
Lunch will be served on the way. On reaching Gangtey, visit to GanteyGoenpaLhakhang, the most important temple in Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism in Bhutan. It offers panoramic and stunning view of the valley. Then visit to Black necked crane information center to watch documentary movie about Black necked cranes and to see real live of black necked crane through vernaculars towards the valley.
Dinner and overnight stay at Village Home stay or similar Phobjikha Valley.
In the morning after breakfast, we will drive to Punakha. On reaching Lobesa, we will visit ChhimiLhakhangwhich is located at a hilltop. The temples is known as ‘the temple of fertility’ and walkaround the village and enjoy witnessing wonderful paintingsof Phallus symbols on every walls of thehouse. Lunch will be served here at Lobesa, one of the restaurants. At Punakha, visit the most beautiful dzongs in Bhutan, PunakhaDzong.After this, we will drive till the view point of Khamsum Yule NamgyelChhorten,passing the beautiful rural landscape. Evening at leisure.
Dinner and overnight stay 3 star Standard Hotels or similar in Punakha.
After the breakfast at hotel, drive back to Paro. The road passes again through Wangdue Valley and the climbs steeply through forests of pine, hemlock spruce and rhododendrons. At Dochula Pass (3150m) you will have a breathtaking panoramic view of the Eastern Himalayan Mountain ranges on clear days. The pass is adorned with 108 small stupas and many kinds of prayer flags. Lunch will be served at Dochula Café or on the way. Continue the journey to Paro. On the way we will visit to Tachho Gang Lhakhang crossing over the iron chain bridge. On reaching Paro, we will stroll around Paro town, for some shopping.
Dinner and overnight stay at 3 star Standard Hotels or similar Paro.
After the breakfast we will drive till the Ramthangka, where the hike to one of the Bhutan’s most dramatic monuments, the Tiger’s Nest (TaktshangMonastery). If you want we will use pony till the Taktshang cafeteria. From cafeteria, we have to hike up to monastery about 1hr 30minutes. Even from the cafeteria, we can see the spectacular views of this most scared monastery in the Buddhism world. Some of you, if you cannot hike from cafeteria, we can sit and enjoy the view of the monastery, which is perched on the rocks, 900m above the valley floor. Our lunch will be served here at cafeteria. On our way back to hotel, we will visit to KyichuLhakhang, it is one of the two most sacred and the oldest temples in Bhutan, built in 7th century by Tibetan king SongtsenGampo (the 33rd Tibetan king, who is also the manifestation of avaloketeshivara, commonly known to Bhutanese as Chenrize).
Evening stroll around the Paro valley, the valley of surpassing Beauty.
Dinner and overnight stay at 3 star Standard Hotels or similar Paro.
After breakfast proceed towards Paro Airport for departure.
The Trip Cost Includes
- Department of Tourism’s certified 3 star Standard hotel accommodation twin sharing room;
- All Meals.
- USD 100 nightly SDF Fee (Sustainable Development fee) that goes for free education and health care for the citizens of Bhutan and tourist alike.
- Tourism Council’s certified Professional English speaking Cultural tour guide.
- Comfortable Toyota/Hyundai Tour Vehicle with Tourism Council’s Certified Driver.
- Mineral Water
- Domestic travel insurance.
- Entry Fees to museums, cultural monuments and fortresses.
- Visa/Permit process.
- USD 40 Visa fee
The Trip Cost Excludes
- Any airfare.
- Any cost of excess baggage/weight.
- Tips to the guide and driver.
- Beverage, alcohol, laundry and any personal nature expenses.
Annapurna Base Camp is a Grade B or a moderately difficult trekking route. So any fit person can do this trek, even if you do not have any previous experience. You should be aware of what to expect and mentally prepare for it. Then, as long as you will to, you can.
On average, you walk about 4 to 6 hours per day. One or two days can be as less as 3hrs and one or two days can be as long as 7hrs.
The highest altitude reached is 4190m. This is the elevation of Annapurna Base Camp. ABC is the highest we will climb in this trek.
Yes, you can charge batteries en route. Charger should be brought. There are hot shower facilities as well. You may have to pay certain amount for both ($1-$2). Negotiate. Also, hot water facility could be free at lower elevation.
No. There are no ATMs on this trek route. You will have to draw enough cash in Pokhara or Kathmandu. There are a number of ATMs in these cities. Everything is paid in Nepali rupees. So money should be exchanged before the start of the trek.
Yes. Internet can be accessed in most places. Sometimes, there might be some technical problems. Internet in Nepal is not as fast as you are used to and at times you can just lose connection.
Not really. It depends on you. If you want, ABC trekking can be done independently. You could hire a guide and a porter by yourself instead of going through an agency or not hire a guide at all. Although, not having a guide can be a little problematic during off season.
It really depends on you. Is it your first time in Nepal? How confident are you of being able to find your way around? How pressed on time are you? If you go through an agency, it will be costlier but everything will be planned. You will only have to come, trek and return.
For Annapurna region, pay for guides range from $20 to $30 per day and porters take $15 to $25 per day.
